Flat-wash folder



W. W. JONES ET AL FLAT WASH FOLDER Filed Sept. 5, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 1, 1929.

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FLAT WASH FOLDER 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1926 Jan. l, 1929.

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- W; W. JONES ET AL FLAT WASH FOLDER Filed Sept. 3, 1926 l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jah. 1, 1929.

W. W. .JONES ET AL FLAT WASH FOLDER Filed Sept. 5, 1926 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 m C'. afd/w65, www

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FLAT WASH FOLDER 11 Smets-sheet a Filed spf. s, 1926 Jan. l, 1929.v

W. W. JONES ET AL FLAT WASH FOLDER Filed Sept. 5, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 CNN vg Z

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FLAT WASH FOLDER Filed Sepi. 3, 1926 1l Sheets-Sheet l1 Patented dana l, 1929.

STAT

Parar oFFiCE'.

WILLIAM vv. Jones Ann AUGUST c. JAUss, or PHILADELPHIA, PNsYLvANI'A.,

FLAT-WASH FOLDER.

Application filed September 3, 1926. Serial No. 133,418.

Qur invention relates to folding machines for fiat articles such as bed sheets, table cloths, napkins, handkerchiefs and other flat articles of various lengths and Widths which require folding, after passing through a laundrying or other finishing process and having been dried and preferably, though not necessarily, pressed or ironed.

Our invention is particularly adaptable to public and hotel laundries, but may beused in factories Where flat articles of various lengths and Widths are manufactured.

The folding of articles of the general class above noted is usually performed by hand, and is therefore necessarily slow. The larger articles require at least two persons to fold each article, and Where a great number of flat articles are handled it requires a considerable number of persons to keep pace with the finishing machinery of the estab` lishment.

Our improvedfoldi'ng mach-ine is adapted employed as a separate machine or it may be attached to the delivery end of a mangle, as desired, and it may be built as a single unit or in multiple units, in accordance with the capacity demanded. i

Our invention further comprises a control device which is adapted to be attached directly to the folding machine when used as a separate machine or to be attached tothe feed end of a mangle when our folding machine is attached to the delivery end thereof, in either instance the article to be folded is required to travel the same distance from the control unit to the folding unit of .the ma'- chine.

The controlling device is so constructed that a series of relatively small articles can be simultaneously traveling between' the control unit and the folding unit, and as each successive article reaches the folding unit it will be dealt with individually thereby.

The details of construction of our folding machine and its control unit WillV be more fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the ywhich: n y

Fig l is an end elevation' of our folding machine illustrating the position, occupied by the control unit when the folding machine is to be used separately;

Fig. f2 is a rear elevation of the folding unit of our invention, comprising in the present instanceV three distinct folding units;

Fig. 3 ifs a front elevatien of our multiple controlling unit adapted to control the individual folding units illustrated in Fig.` 2;

Fig. l is a plan view of the controlling unit, shown in Fig. 3; Y

F ig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of the controlling unit, taken on the line 5-5 of F ig. 3; I

Fig. G is a section on the line 6-'-6, Fig.A 5;

liig.- 7 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe timing device employed in the con-trolling. unit; i f

Fig. 8' is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 7;

- Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 9 9 of Fig.I 7.

Fig. l0 is an end elevation similar to Fig.l 8 showing oneof the' setsfof' timing elements drawn on an enlarged scale;

Fig. ll is a sectional elevation similar to Fig; 9 showing one of the sets of timing elements, f

Fig. lla is a sid-e elevation of one of the sets of timscale as Figs.k l0 and l1; and

l? l2 to 20 inclusive are illustrations of various details of the invention.

The device illustrated in the accompany` ing drawings is adapted to fold a iiat article four times. Considering the length of the article as extending in the same direction as the initial feed of the article into the machine, the first fold is made on a line eX- tending. transversely of the article midway betweeny the opposite ends' thereof, which reduces the article to one-half its original length.- The second fold is also made on al line extending transversely of the article midwaybetween the ends of the initially accompanying drawings, of

elements drawn to the' same` foldedY article, which reduces the' article to tiveen the opposite side edgesof the bi-` folded article, which reduces the article to one-half its original width. rlhe fourth fold is made on a line extending longitudinally of the article midway between the opposite side edges of the tri-foldedrarticle, which reduces the article to one-fourth its original width.

rlhe firstand second folds having to do with the reduction of the length of the article will hereinafter be referred to as the longitudinal folds; and the third and fourth folds having to do with the reduction of the width of the article will hereinafter be referred to as the transverse folds.

Our invention includes a folding unit illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which comprises a frame consisting of end frame members 1 and 2 suitably connected and spaced apart by suitable members including an angle beam 3 and supporting beams 4 and 5.

On the end frame 1 is suitably mounted a variable speed motor 6, the armature shaftl 7 of which is connected to the drive shaft 8 of a speed reduction unit 9, of any desired type. The speed reduction unit 9 is provided with a driven shaft 10, which supplies the power for the folding machine.

The end frames 1 and 2 are provided with bearings 11 and 12 respectively for a lower folding shaft 13, and with bearings 14 and 15 respectively for an upper folding shaft 16. l

A folding blade 17 is provided for effecting the first longitudinal fold along the transversely extending centre of the article. A folding blade 18 is provided for effecting a second longitudinal fold along the transversely extending centre of the single folded article. A folding blade 19 is provided for eifecting a transverse fold in the double folded article along the longitudinally extending centre of said article, and a. folding blade 2() is provided for effecting a second transverse fold along the longitudinal centre of the triple folded article.

By operating the folding blades in the above stated sequence, a fiat article may be folded twice longitudinally and twice transversely, and when the article is of extremely large proportions the process may be repeated in the* same manner as above described.

The lfolding blade 17 is pivotally attached at 21 to one arm of each of a pair of bellcrank levers 22, 22, which are pivoted on a bar 23, mounted in the end frames 1 and 2. The second arm 24 of each bell-crank lever 22 is pivotally attached to a connecting rod 25 extending` from an eccentric strap 2G which operatively encircles an eccentric 27 on the lower folding shaft 13, sce Fig. 18.

Each eccentric 27 is loosely mounted on the shaft 13 between a pair of collars 28 and 29 secured to the shaft 13. Each eccentric 27 is provided with a spring pressed cou- Lees/,cio

pling pin 30 slidably mounted therein, and adapted to engage suitable teeth 31 formed on a flange of the collar 29.

A lever 32 having a wedge shaped end 33 is adapted to ride in a groove 34 formed between the eccentric 27 and the coll r 29 for engaging the pin 30, and withdrawing it from the opening 31 in the collar 29. lt will be understood that the shaft- 13 continuously rotated by mechanism hereinafter described. The lever 32 is pivoted to a bracket 35 secured to the angle beam 3, and one end of a slidable core 3G of an electromagnetic solenoid 37 is pivotally attached to the lever 32 intermediate the ends thereof. The solenoid 37 is rigidly mounted on the angle beam 3 and is operable by means hereinafter set for h. A lever 38 is secured to the pivot bar 23 adjacent each lever 22, and is connected by a link 39 to the blade 17 as illustrated in Fig. 1, for vmaintaining the blade in a horizontal plane throughout the reciprocating movement which it receives when the eccentric 27 is operated.

rlhe blade 17 when operated is adapted to engage the article to be folded at the transversely extending longitudinal centre thereof, and to place that particular point of the article between transverse creasing rolls 40 and 41.

The creasing roll 40 is secured to a shaft 42 rotatably mounted in the end frames 1 and 2, and adapted to be driven by means hereinafter set forth. The creasing roll 41 is secured to a shaft 43 rotatably mountet in ournal blocks 44 slidably mounted in the end frames 1 and 2, the roll 41 being maintained in operative contact' with the roll 40 by means of springs 45 engaging the journal blocks 44.

The rolls 40 and 41 co-operate to feed the single longitudinally folded article to the second folding blade 18 which is mounted in the machine and operated by the lower folding shaft 13 in a manner substantially the same as that described relative to the blade 17.

rlhe blade 18 is adapted to engage the single folded article at the transversely extending longitudinal centre thereof, and to place that particular point of the article between a second pair of transverse creasing rolls 46 and 47.

The creasing roll 46 is secured to a: shaft 48 rotatably mounted in the end frames 1 and 2, and driven in a manner hereinafter set forth. The creasing roll 47 is secured to a shaft 49 rotatably mounted in journal blocks 50 slidably mounted in the end frames 1 and 2. rlhe roll 47 is held vin operative engagement with the roll 4G by springs 51, as illustrated in Fig. 1. l

rlhe rolls 46 and 47 feed the double longitudinally folded article over a table 52, rigidly supported by the beams 4 and 5, be-

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ing assisted therein by means of a supple mental roller 5st rotatably mounted on the beam 5.

The double longitudinally folded article is fed under the lower edge of the .first transverse folding blade 19 With its longitudinally extending transverse centre in line with said blade. a slot for Lthe folding blade 19, a d the double longitudinally folded article to pass through to a pair of creasing rolls and 57.

The folding blade 19 is pivotally attached to the end of each of a pair of bell-crank levers and 61, Which are pivoted on bars 62 and 63 respe-ctively, secured in the frames 1 and 2. rlhe other arms 6d and 65 of the bell-crank levers 60 and 61 respectively are operatively connected by a link 66. The arm 64e is pivotally connected to the end of a connecting rod 67 extending from au eccentric strap 68 encircling an eccentric 69 loosely mounted on the upper folding s via-ft 16 and operable thereby in a manner substantially similar to that described relative to the eccentric 27 and shaft 13, the operating solenoid 37a in this particular instance being rigidly mounteril on the supporting beam 5.

lhe creasing roll 56 isv provided With trunnions 69 rotatably mounted in the supporting beams 4: and 5, and driven in a manner hereinafter set forth. The creasing roll 57 is provided With trunnions rotatably mounted in journal blocks 7 0, slidably mounted in the beams d and 5. The rol-l' 57 is held in operative engagement With the roll 56 by springs 71.

rlhe creasing rolls 56 and 57 feed the triple folded (consisting of a double longitudinal fold and an initial transverse fold) article to the fourth and last folding blade 20 which engages the triple folded article at its longitudinally extendincjqtransverse centre thereof, and places that particular point of the triple folded article between the creasing roll 56 and a (fo-operating sinking pressed creasing roll 72 which has trunnions rotatably mounted in journa blocks slidably mounted in the beams and 5.

The blade 20` is sldably and horizontally mounted in guidevvays formed in the beams t and 5, and is provided With a gear rack 73` adjacent each of its ends whichl meshes with a gear segment 7d secured to a shaft 7 5 pivotally mounted in the beams 4t and 5. A lever 76 is secured to the shaft 75 and is connected by a link 77 to one arm of a bellcrank lever 7 8 pivoted at 79 on a bar secured in the end frames 1 and 2. The second arm S0 is connected to the connecting rod 25 of one of the cccentrics 27 on the lower folding shaft 13.

J@any suitable receptacle may be provided he table 52 is provided withK for receiving the fully folded articles they are delivered from the creasing rolls se, 72. y

The shaft 10 has a sprocket 81 secured thereon and operatively connected by a drive chain 82 to a sprocket 83 secured to the shaft 13 by means of which said shaft 13 is continuously rota-ted. A. second sprocket 81 secured on the shaft 10 is operatively connected by means of a drive chain 8a With al sprocket 85 secured to the shaft l2 Which is provided With a sprocket 86 connected by a drive chain 87 with a sprocket on the upper folding shaft 16 by means of Which the shafts 42 and 16 are continuously rotated. fr Wheel '68 secured -to the shaft. d2 meshes with and drives a. gear Wheel 89 on l c shaft i3 and a gear 90 on the trunuion of the roll d6. A gear Wheel 91 on the shaft e9 of the roll i7 meshes with the gear Wheel 90. rlhe roll 5d is driven by a sprocket chain 53 from the shaft e8.

it. sprocket 92 on the shaft l2 is operatively connected by a drive chain with a sprocket 93 on ay shaft 94 rotatably mounted in bearings on the supporting beam 5. bevel. 95 is secured to the shaft 94, and meshes With al bevel gear 96 on the trunnion at one end of the roll 56, the trunnion at the opposite end thereof being provided with a spur gear 97 which meshes with a spur gear 98 on the trunnion at one end of the roll 57 and a gear 99 on the trunnion at one end of the roll 72.

rlhe folding machine may be operated as a separate machine or in conjunction with an ironing or finishing machine and in either case an article to be` folded is first passed under a control unit 100, for the folding machine, and conveyed from the control unit to the first folding blade 17 by means of a series of spaced tapes 101.

its illustrated in Fig. 1, the tapes pass around. rollers 102, 103 and 10/1 journaled in a suplzilemental frame 105 attached to the end frames 1 and 2, and a roller 106 rotatably mounted on an extension ot the end frames '1 and 2. A'. series of holding tapcs'107, pass around the roller 103 a roller 101l ceut the roller 104 andA a.r roller 108 augacent the roller 106, and cooperate with the tapes 101 to convey the articles from the controlling unit to the first fold ing lade 17 a guide plate 109 being secured to the end frames 1 and 2 for guiding the articles across the path of movement of the blade 17.

Referring to Fi 3, l and 5, a supporting :traine in the form of a plate 110 is provided and three con trol. units 100, 100:L and 100h are suitably mounted thereon. rllhe frame 110 is adapted to be attached directly to the foldmachine, as illustrated in Fig. 1, or it may be provided with standards 111, 111 by means of 'which it may be mountedl at the lll) feed end of a mangle or other finishing machine.

rl`he control. unit, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is equipped to govern a folding machine having three distinct folding units, lio'uever, when an extremely wide article is to be folded, the control units 100, and 109 are caused to function. as a single control nnit under the control of the unit 10() and, in so doing, the three folding units are cooroinately and synchroi'iously operated as a singlo unit, the two outer units being adapted te assist the central unit to properly perform the first and second folds and to remain idle While the central unit performs the third and fourth folds, as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter.

For operating a single folding unit under control of a single control unit, we have chosen the central unit of each series for the purpose of explanation.

Each cont-rol unit is equipped, in the present instance, 'with four complete sets of timing elements which permit four different articles to be passing through the conveying belts from the control unit to the folding unit at one time, and by this means each article will loe folded individually when it reaches the folding unit. For the purpose of su cessively operating the timing elements, each control unit is equipped with a clutch mechanism which is under direct control of a single operating element 'which is adapted to engage each successively inserted article. The clutch mechanism functions to start the operation of each of the four sets of timing elements in succession, W1 h times the passage of each respective article in transit and subsequently effects the operation of the folding mechanism when the article arrives at a point With its tran versely extending longitudinal centre opposite the folding blade 17.

VEach control unit comprises sectional end fr mes 113 and 114 spaced apart by means of tie rods 115. A continuously rotating shaft 1115 is suitably mounted in the end fixed cci'itral portions of the frames 113 and 114. A gear wheel 117 is secured to the shaft 116 adjacent the outer side of the end plate 113, and a second gear 118 is secured to said shaft adj acentthe inner site of said end plate 113.

The four sets of timing elements are illustrated at A, B, C and l) on Figs. 8 and and are constructed as identical intercha L able units or sets. Each set is provided with a continuously driven shaft 119, see Figs. 10 and 11, suitably mounted in removable sections 113a and 114fL of the end frames 113 and 114 respectively, and a pair of gear Wheels 120-121 is secured to each shaft 119, adjacent the inner side of the end plate 113, the gear 120 meshing with the gear 118 on the shaft 116. Each shaft 119 has secured thereto, adjacent the ouer .side of the end plate 114,a gear 122 for purposes hereinafter set forth.

Each timing" is provided with a rock .shaft 123 having a segment 124 secured to its end adjacent the end plate 113, and a. second segment 125 loosely mounted on said shaft intermediate the said end frame and first said segment, 124. fr trip arm 126 is :nljustably secured to the rock shaft 123 intermediate the end plates 113l and 114, and a toothed segment 127 is secured to said rock shaft adjacent the inner side of the end plate 114% A screvT shaft 128 has one of its ends uuiversally .mounted in the end frame 114, ainr its opposite end rotatably mounted in a Sleeve 129 which surrounds the screw shaft 128. The sleeve 129 is provided with an extension 129i", Fig. 12, which projects through a segmental slot 130 in the end frame 113, and is journaled in a forked lever 131 pivoted at 132 to the end frame 11311. The sleeve 129 is provided With a gear 133 which is adapted to mesh with either the gear 118 or the gear 120.

rlhe screw shaft 128 has a toothed ment 134, secured thereto adjacent the end plate 114, which is adapted to engage the teeth of the segment 127 on the rock shaft- 123. The segment 134 engages a stop pin 135 on the end frame 11411, and is resiliently held thereagainst by a spring 13G. By this means the screw shaft is normally held against rotation in one direction and permitted partial rot-ation in the opposite direction.

rShe sleeve 129 is slotted at 137, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and a traveling trip block 138 is mounted on the threaded shaft 128 and adapted to be moved therealong when the sleeve is rotated. rlhe normal inactive position of said trip block is adjacent the end f 'ame 114e, as shown in Fig. 12.

The gear 133 and consequently the sleeve 129 are held in their inactive position. illustrated in set l5, 111g. 8, by means of the following mechanism:

lThe forked lever 131 is provided With prongs 139 and 140. The prong 139 engages one side 141 of the segment 125, which is held against the said prong by a spring 142 in the following manner:

rllhe spring 142 has one of its ends attached to the plate 113a and its opposite end attached to a pin 143 on the segment 124 and normally lies at one side of the rotational centre of the rock shaft 123. The segment 124 is provided With projections 144 and 145. rhe projection 144 engages a pin 146 projecting from the loose segment 125, as shown in set B, Fig. 8, and in Fig. 10.

Pivotally attached to the prong of the lever 131 is a slotted link 147. A pin 148 is adapted to the slot 149 of the link 147,

and is secured to a bell-crank lever 150 pivoted at 151 to the end plate 1131. The opposite end of the bell-crank lever` 156 has a roller 152 rotatably mounted thereon which engages the face of a clutch wheel 153.

The clutch wheel 153 is provided with a cam projection 154 which, when the wheel is rotated, lis adapted to engage the roller 152 and thereby roclr the bell-crank lever 156, whereby the pin 148 engages the end of the slot 149 in the linlr 147, and in so do ing` the lever 131 is rocked, movingthe end of the prong 139 thereof along,` the side 141 of the segment 125 until said prong end clears the outer end of said side 141 and enters a notch 155 formed thereon. lrlovement ofthe lever llcarries the sleeve en tension 129CL into such a position in the slot 130 that the gear 133 on said extension meshes with the gear wheel 118, thereby rotating the sleeve 129 and the trip block 138.

Rotation of the trip block 138 on the nonrotating screw shaft- 128 causes the trip block 138 to move, from its inactive position at the end of the slot 137 adjacent the end plate 114% longitudinally of the said screw shaft 128 and toward the. trip arm 126 on the rock shaft v123, immediately upon the operation the bell-crank lever 150 which occurs at the time the leading edge of the article to be folded passes under the control unit 100, thus the timing,- of the folding unit is started.

The advance edgeof the article to be folded, in passing under the control unit 160, strikes the single operating element of the clutch mechanism, as above stated, see Fig. 6, which comprises a pair of rollers 166 rotatably mounted in the forked lower end of a rod 161v which is pivotally attached to one end of a clutch operating` lever 162, pivotally mounted on the end plate 11311.

rlhe operating` leverV 162 is pivotally attached to the frame member 113a and at 163 to the hub of a wheel 164, having;` two series radially projecting; arms 165 and 166. rlhe arms of each series are disposed in raced parallel planes relative to each other, and are adapted to be alternately engaged by a roller 167 rotatably mounted on a clutch pawl 168 which in turn is pivoted to the clutch wheel Y.

The clutch pawl 168 is adapted to engage the teeth of the gear wheel 117, and thereby rotate the clutch wheel 153, a. spring 169 being providedto holdlhe pawl in Contact vv'itlrthe teeth of the wheel 117,' and, prior lo the operation of the lever 162, is normally held out of engagement with the wheel 117 by one of the arms 165. 1When the lever 162 is operated the arms 165 are moved out of the plane of rotation of the roller 167, permitting` engagement of the pawl 168 and wheel 117, and the arms 166 are moved into plane of rotation. to' disengage Vthe pavvl from the wheel and hold it in such position, while the article to be folded is passing under the control unit 160. When the rear edge of the article to be folded passes from. under the measuring rollers 160, the operating,` lever 162 and consequently the wheel 164 are moved in an opposite direction, thereby moving,y the arms .166 out of the plane of rotation of the roller 167 and the arms 165 again into said plane.

vThe operation just described effects the operation of one set of timing elements for the particular article which has just passed under the control unit, and when another article is placed on the conveyer belts the clutch will function in the same manner, but on the next successive set of timing elements of the timing unit and so on for each individual article.

The first mentioned. release of the pawl 168 and its engagement with thev'wheel 117 causes the cam .wheel 153 to be rotated and the cam 154 thereon to engage the roller 152 on the bell-crank lever 150, and the engagement of the Wheel 133 with the wheel 118 as above described. The cam thereafter passes from under the roller 152 and is brought to rest by the arm 166 engaging the pawl roller 167 and disengaging the pawl 168 from the wheel 117, under a cam roller 170 rotatably mounted on a second bell-crank lever 171 which is pivoted at 151 to the end plate 113% The second arm of the bell-crank lever 171 rotatably supports one end of a screw shaft 172 which has secured thereto a gear 173 and when the bell-crank lever 171 is rocked as above described the gear 173 meshes with the continuously rotating gear 121 thereby rotatingthe screw shaft 172 as long as the cam 154 is under the roller 170 of the bellcrank lever. l/Vhen the rear edge of the articlel to be folded passes from under the measuring rollers 160 the arm 166 is kvmoved from under the roller 167,` as above described, the cam wheel 153 and cam 154 are moved permitting the bell-crank Ilever 171 to be rocked to its normal rest position by a spring 174 and rotation of the screw shaft 172 ceases.

The opposite end of the screw shaft 172 is rotatably mounted in aislotted sleeve 175 which has a reduced circular extension 175EL which is rotatably mounted in a lever 176 and projects through the end plate 114d adjacent the outer face of which a gear wheel 177 and a gear wheel 178 are each secured to the sleeve extension 17 5a for purposes hereinafter set forth.

Mounted on the screw shaft 172, within the slot in the sleeve 175, is a traveling trip bloclr 179 which normally lies at the end of the said slot adjacent the end plate 114s, and when the screw shaft 172 is rotated the trip block 179 carried longitudinally of the screw shaft and stops Within the said slot when rotation of the screw shaft ceases. Rotation of the screw shaft 172 begins When the at vance edge of the article to be folded passes under the control unit 106 and stops when the rear edge of the article passes thereunder, thus the length of the article measured by the distance traveled by the trip block 179.

As the article to be folded is conveyed from the timing unit to the folding unit, the trip block 138 continues to move longitudinally ot the screiv 128 and toward the trip arni 126 which it finally engages and in so doing the rock shaft 123 is turned and with it the seginr-znt 124-. The projection 1115 on the segn'ient 1,21 strikes thel pin 116 on the segment 125 thereby turning said se nient 125 until the edge 18() thereof engag s the prong 11() ol the arm 131, reby turn ing the arni on its pivot and en ,engaging the gear 133 troni the gear 118. A camming action between tho edge 180 and the end of the prong causes the arm 131 'to be moved until the said end of the prong let() is engaged by a notch 181 formed in the edge 180 of the segment 125. The power for said cannning action is supplied by the spring 141-2 having been Inoved across the centre of the rock shaft 123 when said shaft Was turned and the projection 145 on the segment 124 engaged the pin 146 on the segment 125.

hoveinent of the prong 140 Iinto the notch 181 causes the arm 131 to move the gear 133 into mesh with the gear which rotates the sleeve 129 in the opposite direction and in so doing the block 138 reverses its direction o1 travel in the slot 137 of the sleeve 129 along the screw shaft 128, and toward the end oit said slot 137. he block 138 finally engages the end of the slot 137 and thereby locks the sleeve 129 and the shaft 128 together as a unit. Rotation of the sleeve and shaft as a unit causes the toothed segn'ient 134 to be turned againstthe action oit the .spring 136, which causes the teeth of the segment 134 to engage the teeth of the segment 127, thereby rocking the shatt 1,23 and the segment 121, the projection 141-4 ot which ei'igages the pin 146 on the segment which turns the segment 125, roleasi; D' the notch 181 trom the prong lt() oi the arin 131 and causing the edge 141 oli' the nient 125 to engage the prong 139 ot the lever 131, thereby moving the gear ont ot' mesh with the gear 121, the prong 139 finally entering a notch 1&1av termed in the edge 141 of the segment 125 and thereby maintaining the sha't and the sleeve 129 in a neutral quiescent position.

The above described operation takes place vflnle the article to be folded is being cor,- veyed from the timing unit to the to ding i unit. and the locking of the sleeve 129 and shaft 128 is effected just as the advance edge of the article registers with the folding blade 17 out' the folding unit. As above noted, the trip block 179, being driven at a definite speed, has registered the length ol the article and stopped. Rotation ol the toothed segment now ctiects operation oit mechanism adapted to divide the article at its transversely extending longitudinal een.k tre, thereby eii'ecting the first fold.

The lever 176, in which the extension n of the slotted sleeve 175 is rotatably mount.- ed, is pivoted to the end plate 111n at 376 and is notched at 182 to receive the end of a latch 183 which is pivoteilon the rock shalt 123. r1`he toothed segment has a lip 181i which, vvhen the seg-nient is: rotated, engages one end 185 ot a lever 186 loosely mounted on the extension 175m'. The other end of the lever 186 provided with a, notch 187 which engages the latch 183. A spring' 188 maintains the lever 176 and the latch 1.83 in position and a spring 189 maintains the 4lever 185-186 in position.

As the segment 134 is rotated and engages the lever 185, the lever 185-186 is turned, rising the notch 187 and the point of the latch 183 as a fulcrum. The lever 176 is also turned on its pivot and carries the exten'- sion 175 and the gear 177 with it until the gear 177 engages the gear Wheel 122 at which time the latch 183 engages a notch 190 in the lever 176 and thereby maintains the gear 177 and 122 in operative engagement With each other.

Engagement of the gears 177 and 122 causes the sleeve 175 to be rotated and thereby feed the trip block 179, Which has ineasured the length oi the article, in a reverse direction, and at a speed double the incasuring speed Which causes the measuring trip block to tra-vel the measured distance in half the measuring time, and by this moans the position of the first fold in the article is detern'iinet.

When the measuring trip block 179 again rea-ches the end of the slot in tho sleeve 175, adjacent the ond plate 115i", it engages a lug 191 on the lever 185 and rotates the lever 185-186 until a lip 192 thereon engages a lever 193, which is pivoied on the .shaft 119. The lever 185-186 continues to rotate until the end 185 engages the latch 183 and disengages it trom the notch 196 in the lever 176, Whereafter the spring 188 returns the lever 176 to a position wherein the latch 183 airain engages the notch 182 in the lever 17 6, and the gear 177 is disengaged from the gear 122.

vlVhen the lip 192 engages the lover 193 and rotates it around the shaft- 119 a second arm 19%- ot said lever 193 iengaees a pin 195 on a Wheel 196, loosely mounted on the shaft 116, and thereby rotates the Wheel 196 on the said shaft. rEhe Wheel 196 has pivotally attached thereto one end of a push rod 197, the opposite end of which is sli-dably mounted ina braclretlQS secured to the end plate 11-1, a spring 100 being conlined around the rod 197 and between a collar 200 thereon and the said bracket 198,

j by means ot which the said rod 107 and the Wheel 190 are returned to their inoperative position.

Movement of the push rod said rod to engage the teeth ot gear Wheel 201 which is loosely mounted on a shatt- 202. rfliegen-201 is provided with a toothless portion 203 to permit tree rotation or a continuously driven pinion 20 and when -he gear 201 is engaged by the push rod 197 it `rotated into a position causing engagement betweenV the teeth ot the pinion 20eL and they teeth o1' Ahe Wheel 201 which is thereafter rotated by the pinion until the said toothless portion 208 again aligns With said pinion.

Secured to the gear 201 is one element 205 o1c an electric switch. vThe element 205 is constructed ot non-conducting material, and is pro f'ided in its face With an insert of conducting material 200. Spring contacts 207, 208 normally engage the non-con- 107 causes rducting element 205, and when the gear 201 and switch element 205 are rotated the insert 206 is brought into engagement with the contacts 207 and 20S and an electrical circuit is tnereby completed between the two spring contacts 207 and 208.

rllhe element- 205 is mounted on the gear l201 in such a manner (see Fig. 9) as to permit circular adjustment therebetween and the position oi the insert 20G relative to the spring contacts 207 and 208, When the untoothcd portion 203 of 1the gea-r 201 is adjacent the pinion 204, is thereby controlled, Which controlls the length ot time permitted to elapse after the gear 201 starts to rotate and before the insert 200 engages the contacts 207 and 208 to eil'ect the operation oir the `tolding blade`17 by the energization of the elec.tro-magnetick device which operates the blade. ln this partimlar instance the insert 20G would be set funniedia ely adjacent the contacts so that the blade 17 would be operated kimmedialely upon actuation of the car 201.

The electric circ just mentioned is a series circuit including source. olt electrical energy, the coil. ot the elcetro-magnotie device which functions to eitect operu ation oi thc folding blade 17 and the two spring contacts 207 and 208. Closing ot the circuit between these two spring contacts causes the said elcctio-inagnetic device to perform its unction and the article thereby receives its first told at the transversely extending longitudinal centre there .0f-

The pinion 204.1. is driver.; Y1rorn the shaft 116 by nieans of sprockets 209 and 210 and a sprocket chain 211. Y

During the period of time in which the gear 177 is in mesh with the continuously rotating gear 122 on the shaft 110 the gear wheel 178 is Vin mesh with and driving' a gear wheel 212 secured to an extension on ay sleeve 213 in which is another measuring trip block 2111 which rides on a non-rotatingl screw sli-att 215 and measures the length ot the initially folded article.

The slotted sleeve 213 is provided with a setv of levers 176g, 185, 186 and a latch 103il identical in construction and operation with those described in connection with the operation oit the sleeve 175. When the lever 185- 180 is rotated to release the gear 177 from the gear 122 the lip 102 t-hereot1 engages the lever 185@ and through the co-operative op eration oil the lever 186 and latch 183 the direction oit travel of the measuring trip block 214e is reversed by causing a gear 210, which is integral with the gear 212, to be ineshed with the continuously driven gear 122, and thereby rotating the sleeve 213 in a reverse direction at double rthe speed it traveled in the forward direction. The measuring blo'clr thereby approaches and linally engages the lug 191a of the lever 18W-186 and the lip 192l engage the` lever 193a which, throuoh the lever 1%a and pin causes the yvvneel 196EL to be rotated and consequently operate a switch 2053, 207g, 208. This switch is similar in construction to the one described relative to the folding' blade 17. In this instance, however, the insert 206al is set a greater distance away from the contacts 207, 208, which permits the point of the initially folded article at which the second told is to be made to travel troni the gripping line of the irst folding rolls -i0 and t1 to a point adjacent the second tolding blade 18, before the electrical circuit is closed to operate the blade 18. The closing` ot said circuitv eitects the operation ot the electro-mao'netic device which functions to eltect the subsequent operation oi" the second folding lade 18 whereby the initially `folded article is folded at the transversely cX- tending longitudinal centre thereolf. Coin tinued rotation ot the lever 185, 1013 causes the gear 210 to be disengaged trom the gear 122, and the rotation ot the sleeve 213 stopped.

1n order to determine the correct longitudinal extending transverse centres the articley the control unit 100 is provided with adjustable gages 220, 220 which are attached one to oneend of each ot a pair of slide bars 221, 221. The slide bars are provided with gear rack teeth 222 Which mesh with a com' mon pinion 224 on a shaft 225 rotatably mounted in the lower edge or the supporting beam 110, said beam also having suitably formed guideivays for the slide bars 221.

The sha-'tt 225 has a mitre gear 226 secured thereto which meshes with a similar gear 22'? .secured to one end oi' a measuring screw shaft 223 rotatably mounted in the end plates 113n and 114iL ot the control unit. A trip block 229 rides on the measuring screw shaft 228 intermediate said end plates and Within a slotted sleeve 230. rlhe slotted sleeve 230 has a projection 23 a en which is secured a lever 231 having a pin 232 adapted to be engaged by a slotted link 233, the opposite end of which is pivotally attached at 234 on one arm of the bell-crank lever 150.

The folding blade 19, which `terms the initial transverse told in the article, is positioned in alignment with the central shatt 116 or" the control unit 100 and, when the operator places an article to be folded on the conveying belts, it is placed equidistantly to each side ot the centre and one of the gages 22() is placed at each longitudinally extending edge thereof. lt will be under stood that movement ot one ot said gages through the rack 221 thereof and the coinmon pinion 224 Will move the other` orn said gages an equal distance relative to the centre and by this means, When an article is being gaged and is tlat on the conveyor belts with a gage at each edge thereof, it is automatically centered relativel to the folding blade 19.

lt Will be understood that the gages 220 are moved manually. rllhe operator in placing an article in the machine, to be folded, grasps the opposite corners ot one end of the article and spreads the article on the belts 101. As the operator moves these corners oi: the article in opposite directions to straighten the forward edge of the article lie also grasps the -gages 220, 220 and moves thorn in opposite oirections at the same time as the toi-Ward edge ot the article is being traightcned.

lvl'oveinent et the gages 220 causes the measuring trip bloei: 229 to be moved a delinite distance along the screw sha'tt 228, and when the advance edge ot the article passes under the control unit 1GO, causing a subsequent operation otl the bell-crank lever 150, the sleeve extension 230 is rocked, thereby causing a cam 235 thereon to ride to a hi gli spot 236 on a .lever` 23?. The lever 23T is pivoted on a shaft one end et Which is .loosely mounted iioosoly mounted on the sh is a gear 239 which meshes with a secon'l gear 240 rotatably mounted on the lever 7 and when c s rocked the gear is brought into eng nieu lv roagement with the er L on the shaft 119 and isuheld y nient by the cani rlhe is a shaft on which is mounted a trio block and a slotted sleeve in which the block 241 travels. @ne end oi the sleeve is rotatably mounted on the Loot/goro .shaft 238 and the opposite end of the sleeve is provided with an extension 242n mounted in the end plate 114n in a manner to permit both rotation and lateral movement of the sleeve relative to the said end plate. The second end of the shaft 238 is mounted in the sleeve 242 in a manner hereinafter described.. rl`he sleeve 242 is secured to the gear 239 and the shaft 233 is held against rotation in and by the lever 237. The block is moved longitudinally ot the screw shaft Within the slotted sleeve 242 when the gear 239 is rotated and such rotation of the gear and .sleeve and the movement or" the block 241 continues until the block finally engages the trip arm 229 on the shatt 223 which rocks shaft 223 Vand moves the cam 235 into a The arm then turned on its pivot 233 by a spi-in which disengages the gear 240 trom the gear 121, and the sleeve 242 and block 241 thereby are brought to a quiescent state, thereby registering the correct position to make the second transverse fold in the article.

The first transverse fold is formed immediately aliter the doubly longitudinally tolded article is delivered trom the creasing rolls 46 and 47 onto the table 52, and the ing of this fold is effected in the followmanner: lVhile the trip block 214 is being moved in its reverse direction Within and by the slotted sleeve 213, through the gear 216 meshing with the continuously rotating gear 122, the gear 216 is also meshing with and rotating a gear 245 secured to the extension of a slotted sleeve 246 in which is slidably mounted a timing trip block 247 and a non-rotating screv\7 shaft 243. Such rotation of thc sleeve 246 moves the loloclkY 247 longitudinally thereot uiitil the gears 216 and 122 are finally disengaged by operation of the lever 185, 136', whereupon the lip 1921 ot' t-he lever 136 a lever 185" rotatably n'iounted on the extension ot the sleeve 246 and. through a lever176) and latch 133" the gear 245 is disengaged from the gear 216 ai l iunnediately engaged with the continuously rotating gear 122 which reverses the ction o' travel olf the block 247 in the .sleeve 246, and causes said block 247 to travel in re o until. it tinally engages the lug 131b ot the lever 135 causingY the lever 185D, .36" to rotate until the lip 192h strikes the lever 1&3" and operates a switch 205k, 207), ,nd causes the electro-magnetic device, etl'ects the operation oi the itolding c, to Afunction in a manner as above Continued rotation of the lever r id return the elements to their rerniai rions. Thus the "first transverse is etected.

l tore striking the lever 193), the lip 192b lll() engages a lever 185c rotatably mounted on the `extension of sleeve'242 and through the train of vlevers 185C, 186?, and latch 183c .a gear 250, which is secured to the extension of the sleeve 242, is caused to mesh with the continuously driven gear 122, whereby the block 241 is moved from the quiescent position, above described, in a direction toward the lever 185, 186C, finally engaging the lug 191c on the lever 185C and rotating it into contact, first with a lever 193'3 and subsequently into contact with the latch 183C which disengages the lgear 250 from the gear 122 and restores the elements to their normal positions. Engagement of the lip 192C with the lever 193c effects the operation of a switch 205, 207C, 208C, and 'the subsequent operation of the electro-magnetic device which effects the operation of the folding blade 20, thus the second transverse fold is formed in the article which completes the folding thereof. However, if the article is extremely large it may be passed through the folding machine a second time to receive an additional four subsequent folds, as above noted.

le have described above the operation of the central control unit 100 which controls the central folding unit of the folding machine. It will be understood that each of the control units 100"L and 100, positioned at either side of the control unit 100, function in a manner identical with that above noted, and by means of which the folding units, positioned at each side of the central folding unit, are likewise 'identically operated relative to the central folding unit.

1n some instances, it may be desired to fold an article which is of a width greater than the extreme length of the folding blades of .any one single folding unit, and in order to fold such an article, mechanism is provided whereby the three folding units function as a single folding unit in effecting the lirst and second longitudinal folds, and the central folding unit alone functions to effect the first and second transverse folds. In such instance, the three folding and timing units Vfunction synchronously to effect the first and second longitudinal folds, each lin a manner identical with the description of operation above noted, and thereafter the mechanism of the two side folding units Iand the two respective control units 100 and 100b therefor, which effects and controls .the transverse folding` of the article, are each caused to become ineffective, and the mechanism of the central units functions alone to effect the said transverse folds in the article.

Referring` to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the slide bars 221-221 of the central control unit 100 extend to each end of the supporting beam 110, which will permit the gages 220-220, attached thereto, to be correspondingly moved to each end of the supporting beam 110, and thereby permit an article of a width substantially equal 'to the length of said supporting beam to be folded. The bars 221, 221 of the central unit 100 are respectively mounted in upper and lower gnideways 300, 301 carried by the supporting beam 110 adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof; and the bars 221, 221 of the units 100a and 100b respectively are mounted in similar guideways 3003, 301a carried by the supporting beam 110 adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge thereof, (see Fig. '20). rlhe slide bars of the control units 100u and 1001) are relatively short, and permit the gages 220 to be extended into relative position including a width substantially equal to the length of one of the folding blades 17.. The respective bars 221 of the units 100 land 100b being short andat no time extending beyond the center of the beam 4110 are conveniently7 carried in the opposite rends of the .guideways 300e, 301 `without interfering with each other.

In addition' to the mechanism above described, each of the control units 100n and 100b are provided with a double armed lever 260 pivoted to the end plate 114. One of the arms 260e of the lever 260 lies intermediate the gear wheel 245 and the end plate 114% and engages the inner side of said gear. The gear 245 is splined to the circular eX- tension of the slotted sleeve 246, and a spring 261 eneircles said extension and is confined between the outer face of the gear 245 and a collar 262 secured to the outer end of the said circular extension, which maintains the gear 245 in a plane consistent with the plane of the gear wheels 122 and 216 with which the gear 245 alternately meshes.

The second arin 260b of the lever 260 engages the outer end of a. rod 263, see Fig. 17, which is positioned and adapted to slide in a counter-bore formed in and concentrically with the circular extension of the sleeve 242. A head v264 is formed on the rod 263 and is positioned in the slot of the sleeve 242, intermediate the block 241'therein and the end of said slot adjacent the end plate 114% The adjacent end of the screw shaft 238 is journaled in a counter-bore265 i-n 'the head 264, the counter-bore being of suiiicient length to permit relative longitudinal axial movement between the 'rod 263 and the end of the shaft 238. t

Upon each operation of the bloclr241 in the sleeve 242, and as it approaches the `end of the slot therein and the lug 191G on the llever 185C during its reverse travel in the sleeve, the block 241 first engages the head 264 and slides the rod 263 longitudinally outward, thereby turning the lever 260 `on its 

